Best Clear Rods?

[Barnacle Bay]

Hi,

Hope some nice folks can help me - b4 I pull all of my hair out!

Bought some normal Effetre clear rods, but I'm not a happy bunny, all they do is scum  

Tried rejecting the first bit of the rod - no good, cleaned the rods - no good - just getting scum.

I have now read that these cheaper clear rods are prone to this problem, so I could really do with some advice as to the best clear 104coe to use.
I read that vetrofond don't scum, but I can't find anyone who stocks them or have them in stock in the UK.

Any ideas & advice warmly welcome  

Thanks,

Lou

[Shirley]

The best value all rounder is Effetre 006, called crystal clear. It will need cleaning and the end removing, but it is generally pretty good.

Then there is Double Helix Zephyr, which is lovely and much more money.

I like Lauscha clear. It doesn't always place nice with the silver glass, but for regular encasing it's very good.

Vetrofond used to be very good, but it's reputation was tarnished somewhat by some dodgy batches. You probably won't have much luck finding it as Vetrofond have stopped making glass rods.

Hope that helps.

[Barnacle Bay]

Thank you ever so much Shirley, hopefully I will have some hair left 

[Shirley]

You'll be fine.

I would go for the 006 for most things, get a bit of Zephyr for special bits and save the scummy clear you've got to use as the core of bigger beads that are going to covered with an opaque glass.

Or get Zephyr for everything if you have got the dosh

[Enchanted Cobwebs]

I have just started encased florals, using 006, its really surprisingly clear and a good price too from Tuffnels

[Blue Box Studio]

I got some Reichenbach clear from someone - ? Tuffnels?  it's a lot better than Effetre, no scumming once the one bit is removed and far cheaper than Zephyr which my budget doesn't run to.

[Enchanted Cobwebs]

I got some Reichenbach clear from someone - ? Tuffnels?  it's a lot better than Effetre, no scumming once the one bit is removed and far cheaper than Zephyr which my budget doesn't run to.

I'm going to try some of this then too!

[Blue Box Studio]

I got some Reichenbach clear from someone - ? Tuffnels?  it's a lot better than Effetre, no scumming once the one bit is removed and far cheaper than Zephyr which my budget doesn't run to.

I'm going to try some of this then too!

This is the stuff Soft Crystal Reichenbach 1/8 kilo £3.50.  Must order more!

[firedinglass]

I agree Effetre 006 can be a bit hit and miss but reichenbach is reliably clear and clean! Worth the extra for encasing.

[Kaz]

Current batch of 006 is pretty clean but Zephyr is definitely worth the price!
Kazx

[KatheL]

save your scummy clears by getting some pickling powder from for instance Cooksongold.com. Follow the instructions on the bag, dissolve the pickle in warm water in a tall jar, and stick your glass rod in for an hour or so, then turn them around for another hour. Rinse well. Makes a world of difference! In stead of pickle powder you can use sulphuric acid, 1 part acid to 9 parts warm water (not hot!). Pickle or acid can be used many many times, it just works faster when warm, so either warm it up or be more patient.
I use this on all my transparent glass rods, after they have had a trip in the diswasher to remove dirt, dust and greasy fingers.
Kathe, Denmark

[Barnacle Bay]

save your scummy clears by getting some pickling powder from for instance Cooksongold.com. Follow the instructions on the bag, dissolve the pickle in warm water in a tall jar, and stick your glass rod in for an hour or so, then turn them around for another hour. Rinse well. Makes a world of difference! In stead of pickle powder you can use sulphuric acid, 1 part acid to 9 parts warm water (not hot!). Pickle or acid can be used many many times, it just works faster when warm, so either warm it up or be more patient.
I use this on all my transparent glass rods, after they have had a trip in the diswasher to remove dirt, dust and greasy fingers.
Kathe, Denmark

Oo Kathe, I'm gonna try your recommendations - as above     .......worth a try

[KatheL]

Let's hear the result! ;-)
Kathe

[Barnacle Bay]

Well, I havn't tried the pickling powder - but I have put all my clears through the dishwasher even the ones that heavily scummed, and hey presto it seems to have solved the problem   

So from now on all my rods are going to be given this treatment.

Thanks folks for all your help & advice - now a happy bunny again 

[Niki Gough]

Wish I had a dishwasher